Kalanchoe plant named ‘Dokalwilis’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Kalanchoe  plant named ‘Dokalwilis’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching plant habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, early and freely flowering habit; pure white-colored flowers; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOKALWILIS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant, botanically known as Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dokalwilis’.

The new Kalanchoe is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching and freely-flowering Kalanchoe plants with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Kalanchoe plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in De Lier, The Netherlands in August, 2012 of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Cora’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,301, as the female, or seed, parent with Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Kikai’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Kalanchoe plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in August, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Kalanchoe plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since 2013 has shown that the unique features of this new Kalanchoe plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Kalanchoe have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dokalwilis’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dokalwilis’ as a new and distinct Kalanchoe plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and uniformly mounded plant         habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching plant habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Uniform, early and freely flowering habit.     -   6. Pure white-colored flowers.     -   7. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Cora’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of ‘Cora’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are larger than plants of ‘Cora’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Cora’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Cora’ differ in flower color         as plants of the new Kalanchoe have white-colored flowers         whereas plants of ‘Cora’ have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Kikai’. Plants of the new Kalanchoe differ from plants of ‘Kikai’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are larger than plants of         ‘Kikai’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Kikai’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe and ‘Kikai’ differ in flower         color as plants of the new Kalanchoe have pure white-colored         flowers whereas plants of ‘Kikai’ have mostly white-colored         flowers that are tinged with yellow when opening and become         tinged with pink with subsequent development.

Plants of the new Kalanchoe can be compared to plants of the Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Hekla’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Kalanchoe differ primarily from plants of ‘Hekla’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more compact than plants of         ‘Hekla’.     -   2. Plants of the new Kalanchoe are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Hekla’.     -   3. Plants of the new Kalanchoe flower one week earlier than         plants of ‘Hekla’.     -   4. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have larger flowers than plants         of ‘Hekla’.     -   5. Plants of the new Kalanchoe have longer postproduction         longevity than plants of ‘Hekla’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Kalanchoe plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Kalanchoe plant.

The photograph (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dokalwilis’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the autumn in 10-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Kalanchoe production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 10,000 lux to 50,000 lux. Plants received long day/short night conditions (more than 14 hours of light) for three weeks then plants received photoinductive short day/long night conditions (minimum 14 hours darkness) until flowering. Plants were eleven weeks old when the photograph was taken and twelve weeks old when the description was taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Dokalwilis’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Cora’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,301.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Kalanchoe blossfeldiana ‘Kikai’, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 14 days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 21° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically greyish white to             reddish brown in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density             to sparse. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and             uniformly mounded plant habit; freely flowering habit with             numerous cymes positioned above the foliar plane; triangular             in shape with rounded crown; appropriate for 5 to 10-cm             containers; moderately vigorous growth habit; moderate             growth rate.         -   Plant height at flowering.—About 14 cm.         -   Plant diameter at flowering.—About 16 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about nine to             twelve lateral branches developing per plant; pinching             (removal of the terminal apex) is not required but will             enhance lateral branch development. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 10 cm to 13 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm to 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 146B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; generally symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 9 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Vaulted.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             coriaceous; succulent; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137A; venation, close to 137A. Developing and fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 148B; venation,             close to 148B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm to             7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous; succulent;             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 138A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 139C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single-type flowers arranged             in axillary cymes; uniform and freely flowering habit with             usually more than 25 open flowers and more than 25 flower             buds per lateral branch and more than 150 open flowers and             flower buds developing per plant; plants flower continuously             for at least seven weeks; flowers face mostly upright to             outwardly depending on the position in the inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Kalanchoe             initiate and develop flowers under short day/long night             conditions or during November and December in the Northern             Hemisphere; flower initiation and development can also be             induced under artificial short day/long conditions (at least             14 hours of darkness).         -   Time to flower.—Early flowering habit, under short day/long             night photoinductive conditions, plants begin flowering             about eight to ten weeks; actual time to flower is primarily             dependent upon temperature and light intensity.         -   Post-production longevity.—Excellent post-production             longevity; plants maintain good foliage and flower substance             for about 59 days under interior conditions; individual             flowers last about 19 days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Close to 147D.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             9 mm. Width: About 8.5 mm. Aspect: Flat to slightly upright.             Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to NN155C. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D; color             does not change with development. Fully opened, lower             surface: Close to NN155C; venation, close to NN155C; color             does not change with development.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Four in a single whorl. Length: About             8 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Oblong, pointed. Apex:             Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright, rigid.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth;             glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 147D.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm             to 2 mm. Aspect: Erect, rigid. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: If present,             about eight per flower. Filament length: About 3 mm.             Filament color: Close to 155C. Anther size: About 0.1 mm by             0.3 mm. Anther shape: Elliptic, flat. Anther color: Close to             150D. Amount of pollen: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 12A.             Gynoecium: Pistil number: About four. Pistil length: About             8 mm. Style length: About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 138D.             Stigma shape: Flat. Stigma color: Close to 8D, crystalline.             Ovary color: Close to 138D.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per flower: If developed, up to 30 seeds per             flower. Length: About 0.1 mm. Diameter: About 0.05 mm.             Texture: Rough. Color: Close to 166C. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Kalanchoe have been     observed to tolerate temperatures from about 16° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Kalanchoe     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Kalanchoe plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Kalanchoe plant named ‘Dokalwilis’ as illustrated and described. 